Malaysia in thorny situation after draw with Hong Kong
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s hopes of qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup Finals took a dent after they were held 1-1 by Hong Kong in their second Group B qualifying match at the Hang Jebat Stadium in Melaka.
Last night, winger Mohd Syazwan Zainon and goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy saved the blushes for the nine-man Harimau Malaya in a hard fought battle.
Syazwan scored the equaliser in the 56th minute after Hong Kong took the lead through striker Alessandro Leonardo in the 53rd minute, while Hafizul denied the visitors full points when he saved a late penalty.
Malaysia remained bottom of Group B with a point. Lebanon who held North Korea to a 2-2 draw in an earlier kick-off top the standings with seven points.
North Korea are second ahead of Hong Kong on better goal difference as both teams have two points.
The national team under Portuguese coach Eduardo Vingada
never really looked threatening with their chances. The Islander’s were more composed and organised in their play in the first half.
In the second half, both team’s upped their tempo looking for the breakthrough.
And a classic fast counter attack move from Hong Kong left the Malaysian defence open and Leonardo easily collected the pass from Jaimes McKee and rifled a shot to the roof of the net for the opening goal in the 53rd minute.
But Hong Kong’s lead only lasted three minutes. Nippy Syazwan was at the right place to pounce on the equaliser when a deflected shot from skipper Mohd Safiq Rahim fell in front of him. Syazwan with acres of space made no mistake to slam the ball past goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai from close range.
Both teams pushed hard for the winner before disaster struck for the Malaysians deep into added time.
Malaysia were reduced to 10-man after rightback Rizal Ghazali was sent off deep into injury time after picking his second booking for entering the pitch without referee Christopher Beath’s permission.
There was more misery for the home side when the referee awarded a penalty in the third minute of stoppage time after substitute Akram Mahinan tripped Paul Olivier inside the box. And during the melee Aidil Zafuan Razak pushed Beath and the Australian flashed his second yellow card and sent him off the pitch.
The Harimau Malaya were lucky to collect a point from the match after Leonardo failed to convert his spotkick and the rebound past goalkeeper Hafizul.